Top things to do in Tripoli

Lebanon's northern capital: crusader citadel, souks and famous sweets.

• Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles — The 12th-century Crusader fortress over the city: Ottoman additions, the best views in Tripoli.
• Old souks — The medieval market streets: soap souks, gold souks, the tailors' khan — among the best-preserved in the Levant.
• Rachid Karami International Fair — Oscar Niemeyer's 1960s modernist fairground: concrete arcs and domes, UNESCO-listed 2023. Guided visits reveal the vision.
• Al-Mina & the corniche — The old port quarter: the seafront promenade, fishing boats, the islands offshore.
• Taynal Mosque & the madrasas — Mamluk Tripoli's great mosque (1336) and the theological schools — the medieval city's religious heart.
• Hallab sweets quarter — Tripoli's famous sweets: the old patisseries around the souks do znoud el sitt, baklava, maamoul by the kilo.

Free things to do in Tripoli

Tripoli is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing or close to it:

• Old souks wandering — The souk streets: free, the city's living museum.
• Corniche at sunset — Al-Mina's seafront: free, the evening promenade.
• Citadel exterior/views — The hill around the citadel; entry policies vary.
• Fairground exterior — Niemeyer's concrete landscape from outside; guided tours are the paid extra.
• Great Mosque courtyard — Respectful visits outside prayer times.

Festivals & the religious calendar

The town's own festivals:

• Ramadan nights (lunar) — The souks stay open late; special sweets and iftar tents — Tripoli's most atmospheric month.
• Eid al-Fitr / Eid al-Adha (lunar) — The two Eids: family visiting, new clothes, the sweets shops at full tilt.
• Tripoli cultural season (year-round) — Concerts and exhibitions at the cultural centres — check local listings on arrival.

And the national calendar:

• Ramadan / Eid al-Fitr (lunar (approx. Feb–Mar 2026–27)) — The holy month: iftar tents, late-night souks, special sweets; Eid al-Fitr ends the fast with three days of visiting.
• Eid al-Adha (lunar) — The second Eid: family feasts, the year's other great visiting holiday.
• Independence Day (22 November) — 1943 independence: military parade in Beirut, flags everywhere.
• Christmas / New Year (December) — Lebanon's Christians celebrate big; Beirut's festive season spills over to Tripoli's restaurants and corniche.

Exact dates are confirmed yearly — check local listings before booking around a festival.

Sports: Football

Tripoli SC carries the city's colours in Lebanese football; the Beirut derbies (Nejmeh vs Ansar) are the national obsession, an hour south. Basketball is Lebanon's other passion — the national team (the Cedars) draws the crowds.

Water sports on the Al-Mina coast; the corniche runners at dawn are the daily sport.

Tickets: official site

What's new in Tripoli

The Fairground's UNESCO listing (2023) is driving new guided visits. Check current travel guidance for Lebanon/North Governorate before booking — conditions change. The sweets shops ship nationwide now.

Submit your event

Running something in town? Dayfari lists community events free — gigs, markets, fundraisers, club nights, temple and church programmes. Submit your event and it can appear in the town feed within a day. No account needed to suggest; the Dayfari team reviews every submission.

Common questions

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